The idea was to raffle off the chance to purchase a single bottle of something from our small but well cared-for cache of ultra rare beer. Whoever won that month's raffle would have first right to refuse the rare beer or bottle of booze that had been selected for sale beforehand.

A raffle, we reasoned, was the fairest way to offer up ultra rare products in a way that ensured all interested parties had an equal chance of getting their hands on them. All you had to do was sign up (in person, of course) and then keep a close eye on Siciliano's Facebook page or blog for the results.

To that end, we're pleased to announce that on Thursday of this week Siciliano's customer Robin Iknayan was selected as the first-ever winner in our rare beer and spirits raffle. By having her named pulled from the hopper first, Robin has won the chance to purchase (or decline to purchase) a coveted bottle of Samuel Adams Utopias.

Because Robin is indeed exercising her right to buy the ultra-rare Utopias, we are officially putting to bed February's raffle. Had Robin declined the bottle, we would have selected another and yet another name from the hopper, pulling names until someone agreed to make the purchase.

For a better understanding of the ultra rare beer and spirits raffle, read this Buzz blog post. To see the list of this week's new beers, none of which you need to win a raffle to buy, just keep reading!

New and Returning Beer at Siciliano's

Right Brain Debauchery Wheat Wine, $8.99/22oz - "Love is not for the faint of heart... Neither is Debauchery. This high gravity brew is our homage to anyone who wears their heart on their sleeve. Find yourself embraced by earthy flavors reminiscent of raisin and dried apricot. This decadent and indulgent brew pairs great with smoked meats, cheese, and sweets. As with any lover, Debauchery Wheat Wine Ale should not be taken lightly and is best enjoyed from your favorite sipping glass. Whether you’re looking to fall in love, or just want a quick fling, it’s always the right time for a little Debauchery" (source).

Frankenmuth Heffeweizen, $1.69/12oz - "A sweet mixture of spices and fruit with hints of clove and banana, this refreshingly pale German wheat is top fermented, unfiltered and lightly hopped to achieve its smooth, pleasant flavor and unmistakable cloudy appearance" (source).

Stone Stochasticity Project, $8.69/22oz - "India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. The sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project, a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefuit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness" (source).

Beer Lesson of the Week

"The first known mention of 'pretzel necklace' is in an obscure German text from the year 1521. The pretzel, it seems, was the official emblem of the Sacred Order of Reinheitsgebot, a secretive sect of German monks who worshipped beer's holy trinity—barley, water, and hops